Cleveland RTA Flex Metro B #9024

this is a 1990 Flexible Metro B, powered by a Cummins L-10E engine. Transmission is a Voith 863.3ADR, out fitted with a long first gear. Cleveland used the L-10 engine in its Flexible orders in 1983, 1988, 1990 and 1991. the pic is of 9132,which i took. Although its not of the 9000s buses, it still is a 1990 Metro C with an L-10. they all basically sounded the same. Enjoy! this quick ride on the 39X from 1996!

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Cleveland
• RTA
• bus
• Flexible
• Metro

[BurgerChefGuy]

Does the RTA still have any Flxibles at all? I loved the old red and orange striped RTA days. 

[6V92TA]

The last Flexibles RTA had in service was the 9400s, which were 1994 Metro D units. All of them have been retired. RTA might have a couple 9500s left, which are 1995 Metro E suburbans but they might be retired too since they were CNG'ed.

[mrsbrillhart247]

These came out (9100 series Flexible) after I left Cleveland, but came back and rode those buses during the three weeks of my mom's passing...they were on my old home bus route #11-Quincy Ave...BRICK CITY RULES IN 1991!

[6V92TA]

@mrsbrillhart247 Brick City ruled in 1998/99. At that time, Cleveland was home to Flexibles from 1985, 86, 88, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94 and 95. From L-10s, to Series 50Gs to 6V92s! The 11 always had either a 9000s or an upper 9100s, like 9132 or 9135, running that run. I miss those days!

[loaferguy73]

@6V92TA I know and recall exactly what you are referring to with that idle down thing....I must say that these have to be the most unique sounding buses with Cummins/Voith combo, especially that 1st to 2nd gear transition sound. Check out this user (MAR1NAB5180) has lots of great Cummins/Voith combo flixble stuff. Look for bus #9006, a great video showing it doing that idle down/vibrating thing!

[6V92TA]

@bigdaddymatty17 Man the 8800s smoked more than any of the L-10 powered Metros Cleveland had. I so missed that plume of black smoke that poured from the exhaust of those L-10 runners as soon as the driver hit the gas. Some smoked from the time the driver hit the gas to when the driver took his or her foot off it. They really smoked when going into 2nd gear. Man oh man the memories.

[bigdaddymatty17]

@6V92TA The L-10/Voith 863 powered Metros were actually the very first Flexible buses here. In fact I do remember how smokey some of them were when accelerating it was bus fumes galore if you were behind them. Then MDT started using the Detroit diesel 6V92/series 50 engines and Cummins M11 engines.

[6V92TA]

@bigdaddymatty17 The thing i miss the most about riding the Metros was that legendary back end bounce.....especially after it comes to a complete stop. And the L-10 powered Metros with the Voith tranny.....they did this idle down thing after coming to a stop and the whole bus would vibrate. Some would vibrate so much, any and everything loose will rattle.

[bigdaddymatty17]

@6V92TA They were great sounding buses and rode nice. I remember the Flexible metros 7000/7100, 8000, 9000, 9200, 9300, 9400, the Ikarus "articulated" 4000/5000 series buses and even the RTS buses. I remember riding on these as a kid in the late 90s. Now all you see here are the NABI 40-LFW's which are great buses but you gotta miss the Flexible metros. I do remember seeing the Flexibles in DC and heard even Chicago still has the Flex metros.

[6V92TA]

@bigdaddymatty17 Dude....Cleveland's Metros suffered the same fait as Miami's. We had everything from L-10 powered Metros that sounded like this one to 6V92'ed Metros, Series 50G'ed Metros and C8.3E Metros. from 1990 to 2003, it was fun riding RTA. Now all of our Metros have been replaced by a massive order of shitty NABIs.